Close cooperation with renowned university ENS Paris-Saclay

Photo: Moritz Küstner / LUH

13/06/2018

A joint research training group, research collaboration, double doctorates and even joint publications -École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS) and Leibniz University Hannover have been working together successfully for some time in the fields of mechanical engineering, civil engineering and mathematics.

Now, a delegation from the renowned ENS, which has put forth numerous Nobel Prize winners and maintains partnerships with universities like Oxford, Harvard, Princeton and Yale, has visited Leibniz University Hannover.

Over the course of two days, both universities have exchanged ideas and have explored further possible collaborations with other faculties. The presidents and vice presidents of both universities as well as faculty representatives held intensive discussions - amongst other issues, a potential new application for a DFG research training group was discussed. Furthermore, the delegation visited various research facilities at Leibniz University Hannover.

The cooperation initially arose from a long-standing scientific collaboration between Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Wriggers, head of the Institute of Continuum Mechanics and vice president for research, and Prof. Olivier Allix of ENS.
In 2009, both successfully initiated the joint mentoring of doctoral candidates by means of an international research training group. Today, the IRTG 1627 (ViVaCE) is a DFG-funded, highly successful Franco-German research training group.
The group covers an extensive training schedule with annual meetings of all parties involved in Germany and France, at least six months of research stays for doctoral candidates at ENS Paris-Saclay and mutual visits of participating professors.

In 2016 and 2017 Erasmus+ exchange agreements with the faculties for mechanical engineering and civil engineering were concluded, successful double doctorates were completed in 2016 and 2018. As a result, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in October 2017, which was the foundation for the proceeding and intensive cooperation. The cooperation has now been refined during the visit on 31st May and 1st June 2018 - amongst other things, through the exchange with other faculties that were not involved in the cooperation so far.

ENS

École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS) is one of the most prestigious Grandes écoles in France and ranks amongst the best universities in Europe.
Every year, the University chooses 100 natural scientists and 100 humanists out of 6,000 applicants in an extensive selection procedure. Amongst the former students of ENS are 13 Nobel Prize winners and 11 Fields Medal winners. Provided they pass the final examinations, ENS graduates are entitled to lifelong employment in civil service as senior officials, in scientific institutes, or as university lecturers. ENS maintains partnerships with universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, or ETH Zurich.